Means and method for making strip blanks for cans from long and wide metal stock



Aug. '20, 1946. w. MESSENGER 2,406,155

- MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAKING STRIP BLANKS FOR STOCK CANS FROM LONG AND ,WIDE METAL Filed NDV. 8, 1944 6, Sheets-Sheet 1 (a "Q 1 INVENTOR. REJ'JJEPT W- MEEE'EEEP BY a ATTORNEY.

Aug. 20, 1946. E. w. MESSENGER MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAKING STRIP BLAN'KS FOR CANVS FROM LONG AND WIDE METAL STOCK v 6 SheetsShee.-t ,2

Filed Nov. 8. 1944 RubErT-WQ ME sse' gl e r ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 20, 1946.

MEANS AND CANS R. W. MES G METHOD FOR MA G S P BLANKS FOR FROM LONG AND ID METAL STOCK- Filed NOV. 8, 1944 6 INVENTOR.

Sheets-Sheet '3 F S. e m m T. man 5 w .T. a. m Y B h 1946- R. VMMESSENGER A I 2,406,355

MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAKING STRIP BLANKS FOR CANS FROM LONG AND WIDE METAL STOCK '6 Sheet-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 8, 1944 v w- W 5* gm Q r n ,6 I v R]: INVENTOR. I A an E1 5 Q x fig o N u 5 q m I I/( BY \\Q %ATTORNEY-.

Aug. 20, 1946. R. w. MESSENGER 'MEANS AND METHOD FOR MAKING STRIP BLANKS FOR CANS FROM LONG AND WIDE METAL STOCK Filed Nov. 8. 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 /0.6" we I E ert wmasa n e INVENTOR.

8- 1946' R. w. MESSENGER 2,406,155

7 MEANS AND HETHOD FOR MAKING STRIP BLANKS FOR CANS FROM LONG AND1 WIDE METAL STOCK Filed Nov. '8, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet '6' INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS;

Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS AND lVIETHOD FOR MAKING STRIP BLANKS FOR CANS FROM LONG AND WIDE METAL STOCK Robert W. Messenger, Salisbury, Md.

Application November 8, 1944, Serial No. 562,546

Claims. 1

chines for stamping can ends therefrom. This has resulted in considerable waste of material, as brought out in my Patent 2,335,292-granted November 30, 1943. It has also been common practice to sever can body strip blanks from such rectangular sheets of material. Both of these procedures entailed some preliminary work, such as inspection for defects, and trimming an expensive amount of Waste from some of the edges of the sheets before producing the scroll edge strip blanks, and the can body strip blanks. The packaging of the rectangular sheets has been expensive, not only because of the materials used in packaging, 'but also because of the care required in protecting the edges of the sheets from damage. Ihere are also other factors that have contributed to the ultimate cost of producing cans from such rectangular sheets, among which may be mentioned expensive handling of the packages in unloading, storing, opening them, and stacking their contents at themachines which manufacture the sheets into scroll edged strip blanks or straight edged strip body blanks under present methods.

The principal objects of the present invention are to avoid as much as is practically possible, the waste incident to use of the rectangular sheets, by providing means and methods whereby there are no recovery blanks in the production of the scroll edge strip blanks, and considerable trimming of edges is avoided, both in the production of scrollledge and body strip blanks; to reduce the losses incident to throwing out that which is generally called waster sheets, (those havin for instance, defective plating of the surface, or holes) by only throwing out relatively small strip blanks which may contain defects, in contradistinction to throwing out large sheets; to permit of the use of large coils of longand wide continuous metal strip stock, such as coils containing many thousand lineal feet of strip stock, which may be easily protected for transportation and storagein contradistinction to the elaborate baling or boxing now employed for the shipment'and protection. of the rectangular sheets; and, to subsequently avoid the expense of handling f a great number of bales or boxes, in transportation, storage, unpacking and stacking. In other words, considering the amount of stock required for a given order, say 12 tons of stock, the cost of protecting, handling etc., of such amount in coil form would be considerably less than the cost of protecting, handling. etc, of the same amount of stock in rectangular sheet form.

Another object of the invention is to provide machines and methods for making strip blanks which conserve space in factories, in that the material travels in a straight path from the'station where the coil stock is located, to the stationwhere the strip blanks find exit from the machine, thus permitting the machines and the zones where the methods are carried out, to be located closely adjacent one another in side by side relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means and methods whereby fewer employees will be required than under present methods, to produce the same output in scroll edge strip blanks for can ends, and body strip blanks, and whereby the latter will be more accurate in dimensions'than those formerly produced.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of my preferred means and methods, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic View partly in elevation and partly in vertical section thru means whereby scroll edge strip blanks may be produced.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, showing the first preferred step in the method of producing the scroll edge strip blanks.

Figs. 3 and 4, are similar views showing the preferred second and third steps respectively in the method. 7

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the preferred fourth step in the method and which is repeated successively many times until the ICOll of long and wide strip stock is used up, or until the desired number of scroll edge strip blanks have been produced.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the stock and the products of the four steps above referred to.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. l, but showing means for producing can body strip blanks' Fig, 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in plan,

and partly in horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the first preferred step in the method of producing the can body strip blanks.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are views similar to Fig. 8, but showing the preferred second, third and fourth steps, respectively, in this method.

Fig. 12 is aview similar to Fig. 8, showing the preferred fifth step in the method which is repeated successively many times until the coil of long and wide strip stock is used up, or until the desirednumber of can body strip blanks has'been produced.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic View showing the.

stock and the products of the five steps above 1 referredto.

Referring first 1 to the preferred means and methods of producing scroll edge strip blanks,

in Fig. 1, is disclosed the preferred equipment and arrangement of parts; in Figs. 2'to 5, in-

ucts from the start to and in( :lu ;lingthestepv which is repeated successively many times until the coil strip stock is. all used, orthe desired number of scroll edge strip blanks have been produced.

In Fig. l is shown a coil M of strip stock [5,

carried by an uncoiler i6; flattening mechanism bers 44' spaced apart from each other a distance equal to the width of the strip-blank produced- 49, the shearing mechanism acting crosswise of .the delivery end of the table and having the cutting edges spaced from the nearest ends of.

the box die punch members 44, a distance equal to the length of a strip blank, as shown in Fig.

2; a stop 5i preferably fixed to the table at the end of e'a'chboX die nearest the shearing mechanism lfi, the functionof which will be subsequently described; a sliding head 53 movable toward and'from the table 40 and carrying the punchmembers id and the upper blades or punch members 43; a transverse conveyor 5 3 partly accommodated in recess 4! a longitudinal conveyor 55 at the delivery end ofthe table; major adjustable, longitudinal guide 56 along the-lonll of any suitable character, such as that including an upper flattening roll it and lower.

rolls it; drag mechanism 23, includin upper and lower rolls 2! and 22 respectively, for drawa 1 ing the stock 25 thru the flattening mechanism, 1 and edge trimming mechanism 2 3 includin upper and lower rotary knives 2d and 25, respectively, all mounted on a suitable pedestal Z6;

step-by step feed mechanism 21, for stock l5, on i a suitable base 28 spaced from pedestal 26 to gitudinal margins of the table to engage the side edges of the strip stock; and, minor adjustable longitudinal guides 51 on thetable between the box dies 43 and the shearing mechanism id.

The upper punch member '44 has longitudinal scroll edges 60, and transverse scroll edges 6! and 6 2, as shown in Fig. 2, while the die proper 45 has longitudinal scroll edges 63 for cooperation with the scroll edges 80, and transverse scroll edges 65 and 65, for cooperation with the scroll GI and $2, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 1, the die proper 45 may be accommodated in the upper portion of recess 4|,

so that products of the box die may drop from the die proper upon the transverse conveyor 54 and find its way'laterally of the machine.

provide a cavity 29 into which a loop as of the stock 55 may be payed; and a machine SI for The strip uncoiler i8, flattening mechanism simultaneously producing a great number of scroll edge strip blanks from the stock l5 at each cycle 5 of movement of the movable. machine parts.

ll, drag mechanism 23 and trimming mechanism Likewise the step-by-step mechanism 2? may tember 21, 1943, Serial Number 503,270. 'Broad- 1 ly it comprises an upper endless belt 33 trained about space pulleys 3d and a lower belt 35 trained about pulleys 36, the belts 33 and 35 carrying 1 cooperating magnetic members 37 and 38, respectively, which engage the strip stock l5 at the 3 upper and lower faces thereof, the strip stock running between the lower runof belt 33 and the upper run of belt 35.

The machine 3! comprises an elongate ped- 3 estal or table d9 disposed with its major axis parallel to the path of travel of the strip. stock l5 and preferably having a recess M opento its l upper surface near the entry end 42 of the table;

a plurality of box dies. 43, for cutting scroll edge 1 strip blanks from the stock, and each including an upper punch member 4 3 and a die proper 3%, the box dies being arranged in side-by-side relat-ion, transversally of the table, with their lon- 1 gitudinal axes parallel and with the punch mem- 23 maybe of any suitable or approved type, the i purpose of which is to condition thestock strip 1. iii for fabrication in the machine 3 l.

The conveyor 54 may be in the form of an endless belt 56 trained about pulleys '51, in the usual manner, the pro-ducts of the box dies dropping upon the upper run 68 of the belt.

Each upper blade or punch member is has a scroll edge 70 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

each lower blade or die plate 49 has a cooperating scroll edge Myths purpose of these scroll edges being to shape the ends of the strip blanks for economical production of 'can ends therefrom, and to avoid that which is generally termed recovery pieces when the scroll edge strip blanks are'cut from rectangular sheets according to the common practice. This applies. also to the transverse scroll edges 6!, d2, 64 and ,65 of the box dies 43.

The conveyor 55 may be similar to conveyor 56 in that it comprises an endless belt 13, trained about pulleys in the usual way, one of which is shown in Fig. 1 at it. It is upon the upper run 75 of belt l3 that products of the machine, at the delivery end l! of the table #6 engage and i are drawn from the shearing mechanism at, when severed from the stock.

Refer now to operation of the machine 3| and steps in the methods of producing scroll. edge strip blanks ofv like lengths from the coil strip stock, with the view of having only immaterial waste when the strip stock is first acted upon, at its leading end and at its terminal end, it will. be noted from Fig. 2 that the strip stock I5, is first placed upon the dies proper 45, while the punch 'members 46 are raised, and to extend only partially over the dies.

Upon lowering the punch members 44, the leadingedgeof the stock has producedtherein a pluralityof stop. notchesl'll, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6, the small pieces of Waste material '18 dropping into the re- 'cess 4| and carried away by the conveybr 54. The stop notches 71 each define one end-of a first series of parallel potential blanks, the notches being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of a second series of potential blanks. Upon raising the punch members 44, the strip stock may be advanced by the mechanism 21 until the stop notches engage the stops 5|. The stock is then in the position shown in Fig. 3 and upon causing the punch members 44 to descend, scroll edge strips are cut from the stock and drop upon the conveyor 54. The products of this second step are the strip blanks 19, shown in Fig. 6. In other words they constitute the first series of blanks cut from the stock inwardly of the notches TI. This leaves a plurality of spaced parallel tongues 80, connected to the stockwhich are of greater length than the blank 19 as may be observed from Fig. 6. Upon raising the punch 'members 44, the strip stock may be again advanced until the main body portion of the strip stock at the roots of the tongues 8|] engage the stop 5|, thus placing the excess portions of the tongues 86 beneath the shearing mechanism 46, as shown in Fig. 4. Upon causing the slidinghead 53 to descend, the punch members 44 cooperating with the dies proper 45, will produce the second-series of strip blanks 8| shown in Fig. 6, which drop upon the conveyor 54, and simultaneously cut the excess waste material 82 from the ends of tongues 80. This operation then leaves tongues 83 extending from the main body portion of the stock, each tongue being of a length equal to two potential strip blanks as shown in Fig. 6.

Upon raising the punch members 44, the strip stock may again be advanced until the main body portion thereof at the roots of tongues 43 engage the stops 5|. This places uncut strip stock beneath the punch members 44, and one-half the length of the tongues 83 to each side of the shearing mechanism .6, as shown in Fig. 5. Upon causing the punch members 44 to descend, a third series of strip blanks 84 will be cut from the strip stock, and at the same time a fourth series of strip blanks 85 will be cut from the tongues 83, thus leaving the strip stock with tongues 86 extending from the main body portion of the strip stock, as shown in Fig. 6. The series of strip blanks 85 drop upon the conveyor 55 and are carried away at the delivery end of the table 40. It will be noted from Fig. 5 that prior to cutting strip blanks from the tongues, the end portions of the tongues rest upon the conveyor 55 which assist in the severing operation, and in quickly carrying the strip blanks from the shearing mechanism 46. The belt 13 may travel at a uniform speed so as to tend to draw the free end portions of the tongues of the strip stock in a direction away from the delivery end of the table. It is preferred to have the upper run 15 of belt 13 in a plane slightly lower than the plane of the table 40, so that the tongue ma- .terial bends down slightly from the die plates 49. This facilitates severing of strip blanks from the tongues.

From this point on the fourth step is repeated a sufiicient number of times to produce the number of strip blanks desired, or until the end of the coil of strip, stock is reached. After the third step in the method, a great number of strip blanks may be produced at each stroke of the sliding head 53. Accuracy as to dimensions of the strip-blanks is accomplished by use of the fixed stops 5| and the accurate positioning of the In the matter of producing scroll edge strip blanks for subsequent cutting of can ends therefrom, it may be said the strips may be of any practical length taking into consideration, first,

the size of the can ends to be cut from the blanks and, second, the factor of convenient handling of the strips by the workmen and the feeding of them to the punching machine. In the example shown I have illustrated the scroll edge strip of. a size having an area for eighteen potential can ends, but it is to be understood that this is merely by way of example, and that the strips may be of a size for the production of a smaller, or a greater number of can ends. In fact the machine and methods contemplates the production of scroll edge strip blanks of a length much greater than would be practical if produced-from sheets instead of coiled stock.

Referring now to the preferred means and methods of producing can body strip lengths, in Fig, '7 is disclosed the preferred equipment and arrangement of parts; in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive,

. is disclosed the condition of the stock as it is'fed progressively with respect to parts of the machine; and in Fig. 13 is disclosed a diagrammatic representation of the stock and the products from the start and including the step which is repeated successively until the coil strip stock is all used, or. the desired number of can body. strip lengths have been produced.

In Fig. 7 the mechanism in advance of the machine for actually fabricating the strip stock may be the same as that disclosed in Fig. 1, and hence requires no detailed description, the same characters having been applied to designate similar units-and characteristics thereof, however, the machine differs from machine 3| in many respects.

In the matter of producing can body strip blanks, the dimensions of the blanks are fixed according to the size of the can ultimately to be made therefrom. They are seldomif ever of a size as large as scroll edge strip blanks for producing can ends. Therefore it is practical to produce more of the former at each stroke of the punching and cuttin head, considering available area that the machine may occupy and the power available in most can making factories, than it is to produce scroll edge strip blanks.

The machine 90 comprises an elongate pedestal or table 9i disposed with its major axis parallel to the path of trave1 of the strip stock I5 and preferably has a recess 92 near the entry end of the machine, a recess 93 at the terminal end of the machine, and an intermediate recess 94, these recesses being open to the upper surface of the table as shown in Fig. '7; a first set of box dies 55 for cutting stri blanks from the stock, located near the entry end of the machine, each box die comprising an upper punch member 96 and a die proper 91, the box dies being arranged in side-by-side relation, transversally of the table, with their longitudinal axes parallel and with the punch members 96 spaced apart from each other a distance equal to the width of the strip blanks produced by the box die, as shown in Fig. 8; a second set of box dies Hill, for

7 v a 7 also: cutting strip blanks from the stocks, the

second set being located at an intermediate por-' tion oi the table, and spaced from the first set mechanism 569 located forwardiy of said first shearingmechanism and spaced therefrom a distance equal to the length of a strip blank, the second shearing mechanism including an upper blade Hi; and a lower blade I I I; a stop' H2, preferably fixed to the table at the end of the box dies of the second set 398, nearest the first shearing mechanism IE5, the function of which stop or stops to be subsequently described; a sliding head H3 novable toward and from the table SH and carrying the punch members 96 and IEH,v

and the blades IN; and I I6; transverse conveyors H5, H and H5, in the recesses 92, 93 and 94, re-

spectively, a longitudinal conveyor II"! at the terminal end of the table; major adjustable guides I is along the longitudinal margins of the table to engage the side edges of the strip stock;

and minor adjustable guides I I9 on the table between the second set of box dies I93 and the first shearing mechanism I835.

In Figures 8 to 12, both inclusive, is shown the progress of the strip stock during the preferred;

five steps shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13.

In Fig. 8 it is assumed that the sliding head {I3 has been raised and the strip stock moved to extend partially over th dies proper Q1 of the members 85 to descend. At the first stroke of the sliding head stop notches iZI, shown in Fig. 13 are produced and the waste pieces I22 drop .upon conveyor Md and arecarried away. The I stop notches i2! define the leading ends of spaced, longitudinal zones of the strip stock from which potential strip blanks may be cut and the tabs I23 at each side of the stop notches are at the v terminals of other spaced Zones longitudinally of the strip stock from which strip blanks may be 1 cut. Upon raising the sliding head H3, the strip 7 stock may be advanced to the position shown in Fig; 9, a distance equal to the length of one, potential strip blank. Upon causing the sliding 1 head IE3 to descend the'punch members 96 will cut from the stock a plurality of first strip blanks I24, shown in Fig. 13, which drop upon the con veyor Iii and are carried laterally of the machine. Upon raising the sliding head H3, the

stri stock may be advanced a distance equal to thefcombined lengths of two strip blanks, and

assume the position shown in Fig. 10, where the stop notches IZI engage the stops II 2. Upon causing. the sliding head H3 to descend, the

strip stock maybe advanced adistance equal to the combined lengths of two strip blanks and assume the position shown in Fig. 11 with the material of the stripstock' I 5, between the roots of tongues I2! against the stops H2, and with the free ends oi the tongues beneath the-upper blades of the first and second shearing mechanisms I and I65. Upon causing the sliding head II'3 to descend a .fOurth set of strip blanks 136 are cut by the punch members 96, a fifth set of strip blanks IIH, by the punch members IUI, and a sixth set of strip blanks I33, by the first and second shearing mechanism, the second shearing mechanism I 99 also cutting from the 'free ends of the tongues small waste pieces I33,

7 which slide offthe rounded end portion I34 at 40 first set of box dies in readiness for the punch punch members 96 punch a'second set of strip leaving tongues I21, extending from the strip stock and of a length slightly greater than the blanks I25 from the strip stock which fall upon 1 conveyor H d, and the punchmembers IBI of the f second set of box dies'lflii'punch a third set of I strip blanks I28, shown in Fig. 13 from the strip 1 stock just inwardly from the stop notches I2I,

the terminal end of the table. This then leaves the strip stock with tongues I35 extendingtherefrom, eachof a length equal to the combined lengths of three strip blanks.

Finally upon again raising the sliding head H3, the stock may be advanced a distance equal to the combined lengths of two strip blanks, and assume the position shown in Fig. 12, with the terminal ends of the tongues I35 resting upon the conveyor II'I. When the sliding head I I3 is caused to descend a seventh set of strip blanks hill is produced the punch members 95, and eighth set of such blanks MI is produced by the punch members II, a ninth set of such blanks I 42 is produced by the first shearing mechanism I95 and the secondv shearing mechanism Hi9, and a tenth set of such blanks I43 being severed from the tongues, by the second shearing mechanism I09, are carried away by the conveyor Ill. Itis of course understood that the seventh, eighth and ninth sets of strip blanks are carried away by the conveyors I I4, H6, and :I I 5, respectively.

From this point on the fifth step is repeated a number of'times, sufiicient to produce the desired number of strip blanksj'cr coil of strip stock is used.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that coil strip stock may be used in makinga great number of strip blanks at each stroke of the sliding head of the machine and that the strip stock travels in the same vertical zone from coil I4 to the place where it is fabricated, thus permitting the machines for producing scroll edge strip blanks and/or can body strip blanks to be arranged in side-by-side relation, and con serving much space in can making factories.

The manner in which the fixed stops 5i and II:2 accurately limit movement of the strip stock after each fabricating stroke of the sliding heads 53 and 1 I3, respectively, is of much importai'ice since after the preliminary steps of fabricating the leading end of the coil stock these stops are brought into use to restrain forward movement nally thereof, something considered. verydesir able as characterist'm 0; can body blanks;

until all of the This avoids the necessity of It is of course understood that the major and minor guides 56 and 51, and H8 and H9 function to hold the strip stock and the tongues produced thereon to the proper paths for accuracy. Any suitable hold-down devices, not shown in the drawings, may be employed to keep the strip stock from buckling.

The means and methods herein disclosed make possible a very high production rate, in that a large number of strip blanks may be cut from the coil strip stock per minute, and at the same time makes for great economy of stock over methods now in common use.

I claim:

1. The steps in themethod of producing strip blanks of like length from coil strip stock with the longitudinal axes of the blanks extending longitudinally of the stock, consisting in producing a notch in the leading edge of the stockto define one end of a first potential blank; cutting said first blank from the stock, inwardly of and terminating at said notch, leaving a tongue connected to the stock of a length greater than the length of a second potential blank; simultaneously cutting a third blank from the stock at the longitudinal zone thereof from which said first blank was cut, and trimming off the leading end of said tongue so that the length of the tongue is equal to the length of said second potential blank and the length of a fourth potential blank; simultaneously cutting said second blank from the tongue and a fifth blank from the stock at the longitudinal zone thereof from which said first and third blanks were cut, leaving a tongue connected to the stock of a length equal to the length of said fourth potential blank and the length of a sixth potential blank; and repeating steps similar to said last mentioned step whereby a blank is simultaneously cut from the stock at the longitudinal zone thereof from which said first, third and fifth blanks were cut, at the same time cutting a blank from the tongue, until the desired number of blanks have been produced from the coil stock.

2. Those steps in the method of producing strip blanks of like length from coil strip stock with the longitudinal axes of the blanks extending longitudinally of the stock, consisting in producing a plurality of notches open to the leading edge of the stock, each to define one end of a first series of parallel potential blanks, said notches being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the Width of a second series of potential blanks; cutting said first series of blanks from the stock inwardly of and terminating at said notches, leaving a plurality of spaced parallel tongues connected to the stock, of a length greater than the length of the second series of potential blanks; simultaneously cutting a third series of blanks from the stock at the longitudinal Zones thereof from which said first series of blanks were cut, and trimming off the leading ends of said'tongues so that the length of each tongue is equal to the combined length of two potential blanks; simultaneously cutting said second series 1 ting a series of blanks from the tongues, until the desired number of blanks have been produced from the coil stock 3. Those steps in the method of producing strip blanks of like length from coil strip stock with the longitudinal axes of the blanks extending longitudinally of the stock, which consists in first, producing a plurality of spaced apart.

, verse series of blanks from the stock body in said first zones, 2, distance from the ends thereof equal to the length of a potential blank; third, simultaneously punching a second transverse series of blanks from first zones inwardly of and next adjacent to said notches whereby a plurality of spaced tongues are provided in'- said second zones extending from the stock and each of a length equal to the combined length of two potential blanks plus its respective tab, and also punching a third transverse series of blanks from said first zones a distance from the spaces between said tongues at the roots thereof equal to the length of a potential blank; fourth, simul taneously cutting said tabs from said second zones at the tongues, and a fourth transverse series of blanks from the free end portions of said tongues, a fifth transverse series of blanks from said first zone inwardly of and next adjacent to the space between the roots of said tongues whereby a plurality of spaced tongues are provided in said second zones extending from the of said third transverse series of blanks; fifth,

simultaneously cutting a seventh and an eighth transverse series of blanks from the free end portions of the tongues in said second zones, a ninth transv'erseseries of blanks from said first zones inwardly of andnext adjacent to the space between the roots of said tongues whereby a plurality of spaced tongues are provided in said second zones, extending from the stock and eachlof a length equal to three potential blanks, and punching a tenth transverse series of blanks from said first zones a distance from the holes produced in the stock by the punching of said sixth. transverse series of blanks; andrepeating said fifth step in succeeding relationuntil'the desired number of blanks have been produced. i i a 4. Those steps in the method of producing stri blanks of like length from coilstrip stock with.-

the longitudinal axes of the blanks extending longitudinally of the stock, which consists in fabri-- eating thestock to provide a plurality of parallel tongues extending from the stock, each of a width equal to a potential blank and of alength equal to the combined length of two potential blanks, and said tongues spaced apart a distance equal to the width of a potential blank, and elongate, side by side, holes in the stock each of a length and width equal to the length and width of a potential blank, said holes being located with their major axes parallel and intersecting the spaces between the roots of said tongue and located a distance inwardly of the stock equal to the length of a potential'blank whereby the holes extend longitudinally in a first series of spaced zones,

1'1 longitudinally of the stock, for potential blanks, saidtongues extend in a second series of alternate spaced zones, longitudinally of th s stock, for potential blanks; and then simultaneously cutting two'blanks from each of said tongues, punching blanks from said stock in said 1 st zones, between the leading ends of said holes and the space between the tongues and punching blanks from said stock in said first zones, a dis-.

tance from the trailing endsof said first; menticned holes, equal to the length of a potential blank;

5. In a machine for simultaneously producing coil stock, the combination of an elongate table; 1 V; means for feeding the strip stock from" the coil longitudinally over the table; a plurality of clon gate'boxdies for cutting strip blanks, each ineluding a punch member and a die proper, said i box die arranged in side by side relation transversely of the table with their longitudinal axes parallel and with their punch members spaced 1 I apart from each other a distance equal to the l width of a strip blank, whereby the stock may be acted upon, when at rest on the table, to pro- 1 duce a plurality of blanks at each stroke of the 5 box die punch members, and leave tongues attached to the stock for other potential strip 1 blanks; and shearing mechanism arranged at the delivery end of the table 'and'acting crosswise thereof upon thetongue left on the stock by the operation of said box dies, said shearing mechanism having its cutting 'edges spaced from the nearest ends of the box die punch members, a dis- I tance equal to the length of "a strip blank;-

6. In amachine for simultaneously producing a great number of strip blanks of likelength including a punch member and a die proper, said Potential stri livery end of the table and actingcrosswise thereof upon the tongues left onthestock by the operation of said box dies, said shearing mechanism having its cutting edges spaced from the nearest ends of the box die punch members, a distance equalto the length of a strip blank; and means for operating said box dies-and shearing mechanism simultaneously, whereby a 'plu rality of saidstrip blanks may be cut from-the body portion of the stock, and a plurality-ofsaid strip blanks may be cut from the end portions of the tongues of the stock, at the same time,

7. In a machine for simultaneously producing a great number of strip blanks of like length from coil stock, the combination of an elongate table: mean for feedingthe strip stock from the coil longitudinally over'the table; a plurality of elongate box dies. for cutting strip blanks, each ineluding a punch'member and a die proper, said box dies arranged in side by side relation transshearing mechanism arranged at-the -de-' from coil stock, the combination of an elongate 1 table; means for feeding the strip stock from the coil longitudinally over the table; a plurality'of 40- l elongate box dies "for cutting strip blanks,- each 1 the table, so that a fter punching each strip blank versely-of the tablecwith their longitudinal axesparallel and with their punchmembers spaced apart from-each other -a distance equal to the 12 I Width of a strip blank, whereby the stock may be acted upon, when at rest on the table, .to produce a plurality of blanks at each stroke of the box die punch members, and leave tonguesattached to the stock'for other potential strip blanks; a stop at one or more of the box dies against which the body portion of vthe stock at the root of adjacent tongues will engageaiter strip blanks have been cut from the stock and the stock has been advanced to present uncut stock between the punch members and dies proper of the box dies; and shearing mechanism arranged at the delivery end of the table and acting coil stock, the combination of an elongate table;

means for feeding the strip stock from the coil longi-tudi-nally over the table; an elongate box die, including a punch member vand a die proper, disposed with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table, said box die of 'a size to cut a strip blank from the stock at each stroke of the punch member and located with respect to the path of travel of the stock over the table, so that afterpunching each strip blank therefrom, there is left a tongue extend- V ing'from the stock laterallyof the hole from which said blank is punched, suiii'cient for another potential strip blank; and shearing mechanism at thedelivery end of the table in the path of travel of said tongue and located a-distance from said boxdie equal to thelength of'a strip blank for cutting strip blanks from the tongue of the stock.

9.111 a machine for. simultaneously producing a plurality of strip blanks of like length; from coil stock, the combination of an "elongate tabler'means for feeding-the strip stock from the coil longitudinally over the table; an elongate box die, includinga punch member and a die pro-per, disposed with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of. the table,

said box die of a size to cut a strip blank from the stock at each stroke of the punch'member and located with respect to the path of travel of the stock over the table, so. that'after punching each stripblank therefrom, there is left a tongue extending from the stock laterally of the hole from which said blank is punched, sufficient for another potential strip blank; shearing mechanism at the delivery end of the'table in the path of travel of said tongue and located a distance from said box die equal to the length of a strip blank for cutting strip blanks from the tongue of the stock; and means for operating said box die and shearing. mechanism simultaneously.

10.- In a machine for simultaneously producing a plurality of strip blanks of like length from coil stock, the combination of an elongate table;

means for feeding the strip stock 'from the coil longitudinally cverthe table; an elongate box die,

including a punch member and aldieproper, disposed with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table, said box die of; a size to cut-a strip blankfrom the stock at each stroke of the punch member and located" with respect to the path of travelof the stock over therefrom, there is left a tongue extending from; the'stock'latera'lly of the hole from which said blank isf'punched, sufiicient for another poten tial strip blank; a stop at the box die against which the body portion of the stock at the root of the tongue will engage after the strip blank has been cut therefrom and the stock has been advanced to present uncut stock between the punch member and die proper of the box die; and shearing mechanism at the delivery end of the table in the path of travel of said tongue and located a distance from said box die equal to the length of a strip blank for cutting strip blanks from the tongue of the stock.

11. In a machine for simultaneously producing a great number of strip blanks of like length from coil stri stock, the combination of an elongate table; means for feeding the strip stock from the coil longitudinally over the table; a first series of elongate box dies, each including a punch member and a die proper, disposed in side by side relation transversally of the table, with their axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table, said box dies each of a size to cut a strip blank from the stock at each stroke of its punch member and said box dies located at the entry end of the table and spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the strip blank; a second series of box dies, like those of the first series, arranged in axial alignment therewith transversally of the table and spaced from said first series forwardly in the path of travel of the stock over the table, a distance equal to the length of two strip blanks; a first shearing mechanism, located forwardly of said second series of box dies and spaced therefrom a distance equal to the length of a strip blank; and a second shearing mechanism located forwardly of said first shearing mechanism and spaced therefrom a distance equal to the length of a strip blank, said first and second shearing mechanisms being located in the path of travel of the tongues of the stock left extending from the body of the stock, as a result of punching strip blanks from the stock by said second series of box dies.

12. In a machine for simultaneously producing a great number of strip blanks of like length from coil strip stock, the combination of an elongate table; means for feeding the strip stock from the coil longitudinally over the table; a first series of elongate box dies, each including a punch member and a die proper, disposed in side by side relation transversally of the table, with their axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table, said box dies each of a size to cut a strip blank from the stock at each stroke of its punch member and said box dies located at the entry end of the table and spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the strip blank; a second series of box dies, like those of the first series, arranged in axialalignment therewith transversally of the table and spaced from said first series forwardly in the path of travel of the stock over the table, a distance equal to the length of two strip blanks; a first shearing mechanism, located forwardly of said second series of box dies and spaced therefrom a distance equal to the length of a strip blank; 3, second shearing mechanism located forwardly of said first shearing mechanism and spaced therefrom a distance equal to the length of a strip blank, said first and second shearing mechanisms being located in the, path of travel of the tongues of the stock left extending from the body of the stock, as a result of punching strip blanks from the stock by said second series of box dies; and means for operating said first and second series of box dies and said first and second shearing mechanisms simultaneously.

13. In a machin for simultaneously producing a great number of stri blanks of like length from coil strip stock, the combination of an elongate table; means for feeding the strip stock from the coil longitudinally over the table; a first series of elongate box dies, each including a punch member and a die proper, disposed in side by side relation transversally of the table, with their axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table, said box dies each of a size to cut a strip blank from the stock at each stroke of its-punch member and said box dies located at the entry end of the table and spaced apart a distance equal to.

-the width of the strip blank; a second series of box dies, like those of the first series, arranged in axial alignment therewith transversally of the table and spaced from said first series forwardly in the path of travel of the stock over the table, a distance equal to the length of two strip blanks; a stop at one or more of .the box dies of said second series of box dies against which the body portion of the stock will engage after the strip blank has been cut therefrom by its respective box die and the stock has been advanced to present uncut between the punch member and die proper of its respective box die; a first shearing mechanism, located forwardly of said second series of box dies and spaced therefrom a distance equal to the length of a strip blank and a sec- 0nd shearing mechanism located forwardly of said first shearing mechanism andspaced therefrom a distance equal to the length of a strip blank, said first and second shearingmechanisms being located in the path of travel of the tongues of the stock left extending from the body of the stock, as a result of punching strip blanks from the stock by said second series of box dies.

14. In a machine for producing a plurality of scroll edged strip blanks of like length from coil stock, the combination of an elongate table;-

means for feeding the stock from the coil longitudinally over the table; an elongate box die, including a punch member having scroll edged sides and ends and a die proper having scroll edged sides and ends for cooperation therewith to produce a blank scroll edged at sides and ends, said elongate box die disposed with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table and constructed and arranged to cut scroll edged strip blank from the stock at each stroke of the punch member and located with respect to the path of travel of the stock over the table so that after punching each strip blank therefrom, there is left a scroll edged tongue extendin from the stock laterally of the hole from which said blank is punched, sufficient for another potential scroll edged strip blank; a stop at the box die against which the scroll edge of the body portion of the stock at the root of the tongue will engage after the strip blank has been cut therefrom and the stock has been advanced to present uncut stock between the punch member and die proper of the box die; parallel guides on said table for engaging the scroll edged sides of the tongue;and shearing mechanism at the delivery end of the table in the path of travel 15'? including a punch member having scroll edged sides and ends and a die proper having scroll edged sides and ends for cooperation therewith to produce a blank scroll edged at sides and ends, said elongate box die disposed with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table and constructed and arranged to cut scroll edged strip blank from the stock at each stroke of the punch member and located with respectto the path of travel of the stock over the table so that after punching each strip blank therefrom, there is left a scroll edgedtongue extendstructed and arranged for cutting a scroll ended 7 1O strip blank from the tongue of the stock.

ROBERT W. MESSENGER. 

